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BBMP to launch drive to fill potholes

Last Updated 07 September 2011, 19:05 IST

The Palike has entrusted the responsibility of completing the project to its Major Roads department.

Since the Palike has to complete the project, before it rains again, it has decided to cut across the procedural delays by initiating action through the emergency clause. As an emergency measure, the BBMP commissioner can award the contract to the Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Ltd (KRIDL), without calling for tenders.

The Palike has identified 275 major roads, including arterial and sub-arterial roads, and nearly 9,000 potholes. It will cost the exchequer Rs 2.3 crore to fill these potholes.

“If the BBMP takes up the traditional method of calling tenders and issuing work orders, the existing potholes would have turned into deep ditches,” a BBMP official said.

Under KTPP Act

Under the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act (KTPP), there is a provision where work can be taken up without assigning any contract. When the KRIDL was contacted, the officers said they were still in talks with the BBMP and will take up the project at the earliest.

Meanwhile, the Palike has set a month’s deadline for the job.

The BBMP will begin pothole-filling drive on Banaswadi Main Road, Ramamurthynagar, Hennur Road, Byappanahalli, CMH Road, Cubbon Road, Infantry Road, Wind Tunnel Road, Bannerghatta Road, Ulsoor Road and Murphy Road, apart from other major roads in the City.

Mix blamed

Palike officers attribute the reason for lack of quality roads to the mix used for laying them. The mix is prepared at a distance, instead of preparing on the spot where the road is asphalted.

“Sometimes, the mix has to be brought from as far as 50 km and because of that  there are chances of not maintaining the quality of material is possible,” an officer said.

The BBMP engineers cannot monitor the work continuously, which gives contractors enough time to tamper with the quality of the material, the Palike officer alleged.

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(Published 07 September 2011, 19:05 IST)

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